Polygraph Analysis

Shemika Terry, a clerk in the Oak Park treasurer’s office, was charged with embezzlement and using counterfeit money. Terry saw a delay in her court hearing when it was requested that she take a polygraph test. She was scheduled for a preliminary examination of evidence on Tuesday, June 28th, but requested the delay. According to court records, the defense attorney Jerome Barney was granted the adjournment to allow Terry to take a polygraph test regarding her charges.

Polygraph tests are commonly known as lie detectors. The test results are not admissible in court in criminal cases. The tests are not infallible and can be unreliable. The test results are also open to interpretation of experts, allowing room for error to occur.

Despite not being admissible in court, polygraph tests continue to be used by both police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In these cases, the test is used to preliminarily determine the guilt or innocence of a suspect. Polygraph test results can also be used by defense attorneys. If the test results are favorable, they can be used to convince prosecutors to dismiss charges
Terry will appear before Judge David Gubow of the Oak Park 45th district. Gubow is the same judge who sat at her initial arraignment on June 1st, 2016.

Terry’s charges stem from accusations of depositing counterfeit bills in a city bank deposit in either late April or early May. The city manager for Oak Park, Eric Trungate, said that the counterfeit bills were discovered before the deposit could enter the bank. Terry’s charges include embezzlement of $20,000 to $50,000 by an agent or trustee and possession of counterfeit notes with intent to utter or publish. The felony charges call for a ten year and seven year sentence, respectively. Perhaps coincidentally, Terry is the second employee of Oak Park charged with embezzlement this